5 CONTINENT G-L-A-D (GLOBAL LOVE AGAINST DESTRUCTION)
EXHIBITION -
AN URGENT RESCUE TEAM-ACTION OF ART AND CAMERAS -
the WORLDWIDE PODIUM MAGAZINE PROJECT, started in South Africa and touring the Planet

Opening speech delivered at the Grand Opening on March 6, 2003, in Johannesburg

What happened on Sept 11 in NY and Washington could have (and actually has) happened anywhere around the world. Only the buildings could have been different in size. And the people could have been differently dressed and mannered…

Many nations (not just the American one) have suffered destruction of all kinds (terrorist attacks, holocaust, natural disasters, car and plane crashes). This 5-CONTINENT GLOBAL LOVE AGAINST DESTRUCTION touring exhibition is a memorial to all the victims in the past, present and future. It’s also an homage to the one and only profession in which people sacrifice their lives to save others’. In which the life of a pigeon is equally precious as the life of a human being and they must both be cherished.

I called the project AN INTERNATIONAL RESCUE TEAM-WORK OF ART AND CAMERAS. It’s a mixed genre with a common message.

You’ll see here my pictures of a NYFD live action, taken only a few days after the 1st anniversary of the attack, when a whole quarter in Downtown Manhattan, just by the Ground Zero was totally blocked by the Firefighters.

You’ll also see unique pictures by a firefighter – that is Ramazan Tuncer – the chief of the Bursa fire Dept in Turkey. As well as your South African photographer from the Citizen Daily – Wessel Oosthuizen who was in Izmit, Turkey with the South African rescue team during the Great Earthquake in September 1999…

The most amazing part of the exhibition are American architect Neil Bernstein’s Ground Zero paintings made from actual World Trade Center Ashes he collected from Ground Zero on September 13, 2001. Bernstein has donated one of these paintings to the Johannesburg Art Gallery – Museum and to the people of South Africa as a gift for their kindness, generosity and spirit. These paintings were a famous part of the World Trade Center memorial at Ground Zero New York city last year, and are destined for museum collections throughout the world.

On an astral level (of which all the clairvoyants are warning us about) THE BATTLE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL advances every second. It’s here and now – any moment now – that Evil may score. So – it’s up to you and me whether it happens or not. See the paintings by the Bulgarian/French Nicola Manev… The painter is famous all over the World for his unique techniques. His recent show was at Le Coupole in Paris. And one of his humanitarian actions has brought supplies for several Bulgarian hospitals.

The culmination here are Salvatore Principe’s works. Sal’s blown up hearts were hang from the top of the buildings surrounding Ground Zero. Love is the Ultimate Power claims Principe. You’ll see his American Flag Hearts and his Romantic, and his Nostalgic Hearts on posters and large paintings.

The idea of the 5 CONTINENT GLOBAL LOVE AGAINST DESTRUCTION EXHIBITION originated in the mind of a Bulgarian journalist spirit who refuses to register disasters any more. May this project be the last of this kind. In the name of the children. In the name of MY son – the 6-year old Danny. He is a part of the International PODIUM Magazine team – the youngest photographer and reporter. He also joined the project with his alternative hearts… Love is the Ultimate power.

Dear guests, I’m G_L_A_D to be here with you – in the diamond-golden SA – with the most amazing sunshine. Why RSA to start with?
Because it’s peaceful here now – BUT PEACE can vanish any moment ON THE PLANET.
Because Johannesburg and New York were recently declared twin cities.
Because there is a large Bulgarian community here – and the initiative of the 5 Continent G-L-A-D is Bulgarian.
Because PODIUM MAGAZINE starts its distribution here – stay tuned.
An FINALLY – because people here have suffered the apartheid… So here we are – HERE AND NOW. Join the project – by art, cameras and donations.

Zlatka Ivanova - journalist reporter and photographer, publisher and editor-in chief of the first international PODIUM MAGAZINE, made in Bulgaria, published both in Bulgarian and English
Tel: +359 (0) 888 45 08 24; E-mail: podium@datacom.bg